ENGINEER | LOCAL | MUM 

My name is Zaneta Mascarenhas - like Anita but starting with a "Z". 

I'm an engineer, a mum of two, and live locally.

I was born in Kalgoorlie and grew up in Kambalda - a nickel mining town where dad was a fitter and mum the kindy cleaner. 

My first job, which I loved, was on the checkout at Woolies. When my supervisor bullied me to tears in front of customers, I saw what it meant to be part of a union.  The union stepped in to help me, listened to me and made my supervisor apologise. 

When I was 18, I moved to Perth to study science and engineering at Curtin University, later serving as Curtin Student Guild President and NUS West President, leading the fight to stop the Liberals from destroying student unions and putting up uni fees.

In my 15 year plus career as an engineer, I’ve worked in dozens of sites across regional WA and Victoria, often as one of a handful of women in predominantly male worksites. 

For the last 10 years, I've used my skills to help mining companies develop policies and practices to address climate change.  As an engineer and a scientist, I understand that leadership in the area of climate change policy is urgently needed.  Only Labor can deliver that policy, along with a process based on fairness and equity to enable industries and workers to make a just transition to a low-carbon economy.

For the last 8 years, my husband and I have lived in East Victoria Park, where we are now raising our two children, Lincoln and Felicity. We love living here and are committed to our local community.

My goal is to build a fairer, stronger, greener and kinder Australia and make a real difference in our diverse Swan community.

As your Member of Federal Parliament, I’m on your side, fighting passionately for families like mine here in Swan, and working tirelessly with you for a strong and fair society.